Chapter III Chapter III

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law or contract, no suit shall be filed in any civil Court against a tenant for his eviction from any accommodation except on one or more of the following grounds only, namely : (a) that the tenant has neither paid nor tendered the whole of the arrears of the rent legally recoverable from him within two months of the date on which a notice of demand for the arrears of rent has been served on him by the landlord in the prescribed manner; (b) that the tenant has, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, unlawfully sub-let, assigned or otherwise parted with the possession of the whole or any part of the accommodation for consideration or otherwise; (c) that the tenant or any person residing with him has created a nuisance or has done any act which is inconsistent with the purpose for which he was admitted to the tenancy of the accommodation, or which is likely to affect adversely and substantially the interest of the landlord therein: Provided that the use by a tenant of a portion of the accommodation as his office shall not be deemed to be an act inconsistent with the purpose for which he was admitted to the tenancy; (d) that the accommodation has not been used without reasonable cause for which it was let, for a continuous period of six months immediately preceding the date of the filing of the suit for the recovery of possession thereof; (e) that the accommodation let for residential purposes is required bonafide by the landlord for occupation as a residence for himself or for any member of his family, if he is the owner thereof, or for any person for whose benefit the accommodation is held and that the landlord or such person has no other reasonably suitable residential accommodation of his own in his occupation in the city or town concerned ; (f) that the accommodation let for non-residential purposes is required bonafide by the landlord for the purpose of continuing or starting his business or that of any of his major sons or unmarried daughters if he is the owner thereof or for any person for whose benefit the accommodation is held and that the landlord or such person has no other reasonably non-residential accommodation of his own in his occupation in the city or town concerned; (g) that the accommodation has become unsafe, or unfit for human habitation and is required bonafide by the landlord for carrying out repairs which cannot be carried out without the accommodation being vacated; (h) that the accommodation is required bonafide by the landlord for the purpose of building or rebuilding or making thereto any substantial additions or alterations and that such building or re-building or alterations cannot be carried out without the accommodation being vacated; (i) that the tenant has, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, built, acquired vacant possession of, or, been allotted an accommodation suitable for his residence; (j) that the accommodation was let to the tenant for use as a residence by reason of his being in the service or employment of the landlord, and that the tenant has ceased, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, to be in such service or employment; (k) that the tenant has, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, caused or permitted to be caused substantial damage to the accommodation; (l) that the tenant has given written notice to quit and in consequence of that notice, the landlord has contracted to sell the accommodation or has taken any other step as a result of which his interests would seriously suffer if he is not put in possession of that accommodation; (m) that the tenant has, without the written permission of the landlord, made or permitted to be made, any such construction as has materially altered the accommodation to the detriment of the landlord's interest or is likely to diminish its value substantially; (n) in the case of accommodation which is open land, that the landlord requires it for constructing a house on it; (o) that the tenant has without the written permission of the landlord also taken possession of such portion or portions of accommodation which is not included in the accommodation let to Him and which the tenant has not vacated in spite of a written notice of the landlord in that behalf; (p) that the tenant has been convicted under any law for the time being in force of an offence of using the building or allowing the building to be used for immoral or illegal purposes. (2) No order for the eviction of tenant in any proceeding under sub-section (1) shall be binding on any sub-tenant referred to in Section 15 who has given notice of his sub-tenancy to the landlord under the provisions of that Section, unless the sub-tenant is made a party to the proceeding and the order for eviction is made binding on him. (3) No order for the eviction of a tenant shall be made on the ground specified in clause (a) of sub-section (1), if the tenant makes payment or deposit as required by Section 13 : Provided that no tenant shall be entitled to the benefit under this sub-section, if, having obtained such benefit once in respect of any accommodation, he again makes a default in the payment of rent of that accommodation for three consecutive months. (4) Where a landlord has acquired any accommodation by transfer, no suit for the eviction of tenant shall be maintainable under sub-section (1) on the ground specified in clause (e) or clause (f) thereof, unless a period of one year has elapsed from the date of the acquisition. (5) Where an order for the eviction of a tenant is made on the ground specified in clause (e) of sub-section (1), the landlord shall not be entitled to obtain possession thereof before the expiration of a period of two months from the date of the order. (6) Where an order for the eviction of a tenant is made on the ground specified in clause (f) of sub-section (1), the landlord shall not be entitled to obtain possession thereof- (a) before the expiration of a period of two months from the date of the order; and (b) if the accommodation is situated in cities of Gwalior (including Lashkar and Morar), Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Raipur, Durg or such other towns or cities specified by the State Government by a notification in that behalf, unless the landlord pays to the tenant such amount by way of compensation as may be equal to- (i) double the amount of the annual standard rent of the accommodation in the following cases, namely:- (a) where the accommodation has, for a period of ten years immediately preceding the date on which the landlord files a suit for possession thereof, been used for business purposes or for any other purpose along with such purposes, by the tenant who is being evicted; (b) where during the aforesaid period of ten years, the tenant carrying on any business in the accommodation has left it, and the tenant immediately succeeding has acquired the business of his predecessor either through transfer or inheritance; (ii) the amount of the annual standard rent in other cases.] (7) No order for the eviction of a tenant shall be made on the ground specified in clause (h) of sub-Section (1), unless the Court is satisfied that the proposed reconstruction will not radically alter the purpose for which the accommodation was let or that radical alteration is in the public interest, and that the plans and estimates of such reconstruction have been properly prepared and that necessary funds for the purpose are available with the landlord. (8) No order for the eviction of a tenant shall be made on the ground specified in clause (j) of sub-Section (1), if any dispute as to whether the tenant has ceased to be in the service or employment of the landlord is pending before any authority competent to decide such dispute. (9) No order for the eviction of a tenant shall be made on the ground specified in clause (k) of sub-Section (1), if the tenant, within such time as may be specified in this behalf by the Court, carries out repairs to the damage caused to the satisfaction of the Court or pays to the landlord such amount by way of compensation as the Court may direct. (10) No order for the eviction of a tenant shall be made on the ground specified in clause (m) of sub-Section (1), if the tenant within such time as may be specified in this behalf by the Court restores the accommodation to its original condition or pays to the landlord such amount by way of compensation as it may direct. (11) No order for the eviction of a tenant shall be made on the ground specified in clause (o) of sub-Section (1), if the tenant within such time as may be specified in this behalf by the Court vacates the portion or portions of accommodation not let to him and pays to the landlord such amount by way of compensation as it may direct.

(1) On a suit or any other proceeding being instituted by a landlord on any of the grounds referred to in Section 12 or in any appeal or any other proceeding by a tenant against any decree or order for his eviction, the tenant shall, within one month of the service of writ of summons or notice of appeal or of any other proceeding, or within one month of institution of appeal or any other proceeding by the tenant, as the case may be, or within such further time as the Court may on an application made to it allow in this behalf, deposit in the Court or pay to the landlord, an amount calculated at the rate of rent at which it was paid, for the period for which the tenant may have made default including the period subsequent thereto up to the end of the month previous to that in which the deposit or payment is made ; and shall thereafter continue to deposit or pay, month by month by the 15th of each succeeding month a sum equivalent to the rent at that rate till the decision of the suit, appeal or proceeding, as the case may be. (2) If in any suit or proceeding referred to in sub-Section (1), there is any dispute as to the amount of rent payable by the tenant, the Court shall, on a plea made either by landlord or tenant in that behalf which shall be taken at the earliest opportunity during such suit or proceeding, fix a reasonable provisional rent, in relation to the accommodation, to be deposited or paid in accordance with the provisions of sub-Section (1) and no Court shall, save for reasons to be recorded in writing, entertain any plea on this account at any subsequent stage]. (3) If, in any proceeding referred to in sub-Section (1), there is any dispute as to the person or persons to whom the rent is payable, the Court may direct the tenant to deposit with the Court the amount payable by him under sub-Section (1) or sub-Section (2), and in such a case, no person shall be entitled to withdraw the amount in deposit until the Court decides the dispute and makes an order for payment of the same. (4) If the Court is satisfied that any dispute referred to in sub-Section (3) has been raised by a tenant for reasons which are false or frivolous, the Court may order the defence against eviction to be struck out and proceed with the hearing of the suit. (5) If a tenant makes deposit or payment as required by sub-section (1) or sub-Section (2), no decree or order shall be made by the Court for the recovery of possession of the accommodation on the ground of default in the payment of rent by the tenant, but the Court may allow such cost as it may deem fit to the landlord. [(6) If a tenant fails to deposit or pay any amount as required by this Section, the Court may order the defence against eviction to be struck out and shall proceed with the hearing of the suit, appeal or proceeding, as the case may be.]

(1) No tenant shall, without the previous consent in writing of the landlord,- (a) sub-let the whole or any part of the accommodation held by him as a tenant; or (b) transfer or assign his rights in the tenancy or in any part thereof. (2) No landlord shall claim or receive the payment of any sum as premium or pugree or claim or receive any consideration whatsoever in cash or in kind for giving his consent to the sub-letting of the whole or any part of the accommodation held by the tenant.

(1) Where, after the commencement of this Act, any accommodation is sub-let either in whole or in part by the tenant with the previous consent in writing of the landlord, the tenant or the sub-tenant to whom the accommodation is sub-let may, in the prescribed manner, give notice to the landlord of the creation of the sub-tenancy within one month of the date of such sub-letting and notify the termination of such sub-tenancy within one month of such termination. (2) Where, before the commencement of this Act, any accommodation has been lawfully sub-let either in whole or in part by the tenant, the tenant or the sub-tenant to whom the accommodation has been sub-let may, in the prescribed manner, give notice to the landlord of the creation of the sub-tenancy within six months of the commencement of this Act, and notify the termination of such sub-tenancy within one month of such termination. (3) Where, in any case mentioned in sub-Section (2), the landlord contests that the accommodation was not lawfully sub-let and an application is made to the Rent Controlling Authority in this behalf, either by the landlord or by the sub-tenant, within two months of the date of the receipt of the notice of sub-letting by the landlord or the issue of the notice by the tenant or the sub-tenant, as the case may be, the Rent Controlling Authority shall decide the dispute.

(1) Where an order for eviction in respect of any accommodation is made under Section 12 against a tenant but not against a sub-tenant referred to in Section 15 and a notice of the sub-tenancy has been given to the landlord, the sub-tenant shall, with effect from the date of the order, be deemed to become a tenant holding directly under the landlord in respect of the accommodation in his occupation on the same terms and conditions on which the tenant would have held from the landlord, if the tenancy had continued. (2) Where, before the commencement of this Act, the interest of a tenant in respect of any accommodation has been determined without determining the interest of any sub-tenant to whom the accommodation either in whole or in part had been lawfully sub-let, the sub-tenant shall, with effect from the date of the commencement of this Act, be deemed to have become a tenant holding directly under the landlord on the same terms and conditions on which the tenant would have held from the landlord, if the tenancy had continued.

(1) In making any order on the grounds specified in clause (g) or clause (h) of sub-Section (I) of Section 12, the Court shall ascertain from the tenant whether he elects to be placed in occupation of the accommodation or part thereof from which he is to be evicted, and, if the tenant so elects, shall record the fact of the election in the order and specify therein the date on or before which he shall deliver possession so as to enable the landlord to commence the work of repairs or building or re-building, as the case may be. (2) If the tenant delivers possession on or before the date specified in the order, the landlord shall, on the completion of the work of repairs or building or re-building place the tenant in occupation of the accommodation or part thereof, as the case may be, within one month of the completion of such work.

(3) If, after the tenant has delivered possession on or before the date specified in the order, the landlord fails to commence the work of repairs or building or re-building within one month of the specified date or fails to complete the work in a reasonable time or having completed the work, fails to place the tenant in occupation of the accommodation in accordance with sub-section (2), the Court may, on an application made to it in this behalf by the tenant within such time as may be prescribed, order the landlord to place the tenant in occupation of the accommodation or part thereof or to pay to the tenant such compensation as the Court thinks fit. 19. Recovery of possession in ease of tenancies for limited period. - Where a landlord does not require the whole or any part of any accommodation for a particular period and the landlord, after obtaining the permission of the Collector or such other officer as may be authorised by him under sub-section (1) of Section 39, in the prescribed manner, lets the whole of the accommodation or part thereof as a residence for such period as may be agreed to in writing between the landlord and the tenant and the tenant does not, on the expiry of the said period, vacate such accommodation, then notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of Section 12 or in any other law, the Court may, on a suit being filed before it in this behalf by the landlord within such time as may be prescribed, place the landlord in vacant possession of the accommodation or part thereof by evicting the tenant and every other person who may be in occupation of such accommodation.

20. Special provision for recovery of possession in certain cases. - Where the landlord in respect of any accommodation is any company or other body corporate or any local authority or any public institution and the accommodation is required for the use of employees of such landlord, or, in the case of a public institution, for the furtherance of its activities, then, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 12 or in any other law, the Court may, on a suit being filed before it in this behalf by such landlord, place the landlord in vacant possession of such accommodation by evicting the tenant and every other person who may be in occupation thereof, if the Court is satisfied- (a) that the tenant to whom such accommodations were let for use as a residence at a time when he was in the service or employment of the landlord, has ceased to be in such service or employment; or (b) that the tenant has acted in contravention of the terms, express or implied, under which he was authorised to occupy such accommodation; or (c) that any other person is in unauthorised occupation of such accommodation; or (d) that the accommodation is required bonafide by the public institution for the furtherance of its activities. Explanation. - For the purposes of this Section, "public institution" includes any educational institution, library, hospital and charitable dispensary.

21. Permission to construct additional structures. - Where the landlord proposes to make any improvement in or construct any additional structure on, any building which has been let to a tenant and the tenant refuses to allow the landlord to make such improvement or construct such additional structure and the Rent Controlling Authority, on an application made to it in this behalf by the landlord, is satisfied that the landlord is ready and willing to commence the work and that such work will not cause any undue hardship to the tenant, the Rent Controlling Authority may permit the landlord to do such work and may make such other order as it thinks fit in the circumstances of the case.

22. Special provision regarding vacant building sites. - Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 12 where any accommodation which has been let, comprises vacant land upon which it is permissible under the building regulations or municipal bye-laws for the time being in force, to erect any building whether for use as a residence or for any other purpose and the landlord proposing to erect such building is unable to obtain possession of the land from the tenant by agreement with him and the Rent Controlling Authority, on an application made to it in this behalf by the landlord, is satisfied that the landlord is ready and willing to commence the work and that the severance of the vacant land from the rest of the accommodation will not cause undue hardship to the tenant, the Rent Controlling Authority may- (a) direct such severance; (b) place the landlord in possession of the vacant land; (c) determine the rent payable by the tenant in respect of the rest of the accommodation; and (d) make such other order as it thinks fit in the circumstances of the case.

23. Vacant possession to landlord. - Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, where the interest of a tenant in any accommodation is determined for any reason whatsoever and any decree or order is passed by a Court under this Act for the recovery of possession of such accommodation, the decree or order shall, subject to the provisions of Section 16, be binding on all persons who may be in occupation of the accommodation and vacant possession thereof, shall be given to the landlord by evicting all such persons therefrom : Provided that nothing in this Section shall apply to any person who has an independent title to such accommodation.

23A. Special provision for eviction of tenant on ground of bonafide requirement. - Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or contract to the contrary, a landlord may submit an application, signed and verified in a manner provided in Rules 14 and 15 of Order VI of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) as if it were a plaint to the Rent Controlling Authority on one or more of the following grounds for an order directing the tenant to put the landlord in possession of the accommodation, namely :- (a) that the accommodation let for residential purposes is required "bonafide" by the landlord for occupation as residence for himself or for any member of his family, or for any person for whose benefit, the accommodation is held and that the landlord or such person has no other reasonably suitable residential accommodation of his own in his occupation in the city or town concerned. Explanation. - For the purposes of this clause, "accommodation let for residential purposes" includes- (i) any accommodation which having been let for use as a residence is without the express consent of the landlord, used wholly or partly for any non-residential purpose; (ii) any accommodation which has not been let under an express provision of contract for non-residential purpose; (b) that the accommodation let for non-residential purposes is required "bonafide" by the landlord for the purpose of continuing or starting his business or that of any of his major sons or unmarried daughters, if he is the owner thereof or for any person for whose benefit the accommodation is held and that the landlord or such person has no other reasonably suitable non-residential accommodation of his own in his occupation in the city or town concerned: Provided that where a person who is a landlord has acquired any accommodation or any interest therein by transfer, no application for eviction of tenant of such accommodation shall be maintainable at the instance of such person unless a period of one year has elapsed from the date of such acquisition.

23B. Rent Controlling Authority to issue summons in relation to every application under Section 23-A. - (1) The Rent Controlling Authority shall issue to the tenant a summons, in relation to every application referred to in Section 23-A, in the form specified in the Second Schedule. (2) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of Order V and Order XVI of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) regarding issue and service of summons to a defendant and summoning and attendance of witnesses to give evidence or to produce documents shall apply mutatis mutandis to issue and service of any summons to a tenant or opposite party or to a witness to give evidence or to produce documents in an inquiry or proceeding under this Chapter.

23C. Tenant not entitled to contest except under certain circumstances. - (1) The tenant on whom the summons is served in the form specified in the Second Schedule shall not contest the prayer for eviction from the accommodation unless he files within fifteen days from the date of service of the summons, an application supported by an affidavit stating the grounds on which he seeks to contest the application for eviction and obtains leave from the Rent Controlling Authority as hereinafter provided, and in default of his appearance in pursuance of the summons or in default of his obtaining such leave, or if such leave is refused, the statement made by the landlord in the application for eviction shall be deemed to be admitted by the tenant. The Rent Controlling Authority shall in such a case pass an order of eviction of the tenant from the accommodation: Provided that the Rent Controlling Authority may, for sufficient cause shown by the tenant, excuse the delay of the tenant in entering appearance or in applying for leave to defend the application for eviction and where ex-parte order has been passed, may set it aside. (2) The Rent Controlling Authority shall, within one month of the date of receipt of application, give to the tenant, if necessary, leave to contest the application, if the application supported by an affidavit filed by the tenant discloses such facts as would disentitle the landlord from obtaining an order for the recovery of possession of the accommodation on the ground specified in Section 23-A.

23D. Procedure to be followed by Rent Controlling Authority or grant of leave to tenant to contest. - (1) Where leave is granted to the tenant to contest the application, the Rent Controlling Authority shall commence the hearing of the application as early as (1)... practicable and decide the same, as far as may be, within six months of the order of granting of leave to the tenant to contest application. (2) The Rent Controlling Authority shall, while holding an enquiry in a proceeding to which this Chapter applies, follow as far as practicable, the practice and procedure of a Court of Small Causes including the recording of evidence under the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887 (IX of 1887). The Rent Controlling Authority shall as far as possible, proceed with the hearing of the application from day to day. (3) In respect of an application by a landlord it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, the requirement by the landlord with reference to clause (a) or clause (b), as the case may be of Section 23-A is bona fide.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 31 or Section 32, no appeal shall lie from any order passed by the Rent Controlling Authority under this Chapter. (2) The High Court may, at any time suo motu or on the application of any person aggrieved, for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality, propriety or correctness of any order passed by or as to the regularity of the proceedings of the Rent Controlling Authority, call for and examine the record of the case pending before or disposed of by such Authority and may pass such order in revision in reference thereto as it thinks fit and save as otherwise provided by this Section, in disposal of any revision under this Section, the High Court shall, as far as may be, exercise the same powers and follow the same procedure as it does for disposal of a revision under Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) as if any such proceeding of the Rent Controlling Authority is of a Court sub-ordinate to such High Court. Provided that no powers of revision at the instance of person aggrieved shall be exercised unless an application is presented within ninety days of the date of the order sought to be revised.

The stay of the operation of the order of eviction passed by a Rent Controlling Authority or by the High Court shall not enure for a total period of more than six months.

(1) Where an order for the eviction of a tenant is made on the ground specified in clause (a) of Section 23-A, the landlord shall not be entitled to obtain possession thereof before the expiration of a period of two months from the date of the order. (2) Where an order for the eviction of a tenant is made on the grounds specified in clause (b) of Section 23-A, the landlord shall not be entitled to obtain possession thereof- (a) before the expiration of period of two months from the date of the order; and (b) if the accommodation is situate in cities of Gwalior (including Lashkar and Morar), Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Raipur or Durg or such other towns or cities specified by the State Government by notification in that behalf, unless the landlord pays to the tenant such amount by way of compensation as may be equal to- (i) double the amount of the annual standard rent of the accommodation in the following cases: (a) where the accommodation has, for a period of ten complete years immediately preceding the date on which the landlord files an application for possession thereof, been used for business purposes or for any other purposes alongwith such purpose, by the tenant who is being evicted; (b) where during the aforesaid period of ten years, the tenant carrying on any business in the accommodation has left it and the tenant immediately succeeding has acquired the business of his predecessor either through transfer or inheritance; (ii) the amount of the annual standard rent in other cases. (3) Where a landlord recovers possession of any accommodation from the tenant in pursuance of an order made under clause (a) or clause (b) of Section 23-A, the landlord shall not, except with the permission of the Rent Controlling Authority obtained in the prescribed manner, re-let the whole or any part of the accommodation within two years from the date of obtaining such possession, and in granting such permission, the Rent Controlling Authority may direct the landlord to put such evicted tenant in possession of the accommodation. (4) Where a landlord recovers possession of any accommodation as aforesaid and the accommodation is not occupied by the landlord if he is the owner thereof, or by the person for whose benefit the accommodation is held, within two months of obtaining such possession, or the accommodation having been so occupied is, at any time within two years from the date of obtaining possession re-let to any person other than the evicted tenant without obtaining the permission of the Rent Controlling Authority under sub-Section (3) or the possession of such accommodation is transferred to another person for reasons which do not appear to the Rent Controlling Authority may, to be bonafide, the Rent Controlling Authority may, on an application made to it in this behalf by such evicted tenant within such time as may be prescribed, direct the landlord to put the tenant in possession of the accommodation or to pay him such compensation as the Rent Controlling Authority thinks fit. (5) Where the landlord makes any payment to the tenant by way of compensation under sub-Section (2), the evicted tenant shall not be liable to refund the same to the landlord on being put in possession of the accommodation under sub-Section (3) or sub-section (4).

The provisions of Section 13 shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of an application for recovery of possession of accommodation under Section 23-A and in respect of proceeding for revision under Section 23-E against final order by the Rent Controlling Authority under Section 23-C or under Section 23-D as they apply to a suit or proceeding instituted on any of the grounds referred to in Section 12 : Provided that no suit or proceeding for eviction of the tenant is pending before any Court at any of its stages in relation to the same accommodation.

A landlord making a false or frivolous application under Section 23-A or a tenant seeking either permission to defend the application or adjournment on false or frivolous or vexatious grounds, may be saddled with heavy compensatory costs not exceeding six months rent of the accommodation at a time as the Rent Controlling Authority may fix.